Sunday November 19 th 2017 The Word of God A Survey of the Bible Part Five Continued - B Get Out..And Come 1). Ge 15:17 And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces. 18 On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates- 19 "the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, 20 "the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 "the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites." We had seen last time that following Abram s defeat of the kings, his rescue of Lot, his blessing by Melchizedek and Abram giving a tithe of all, that God had then revealed to him the role of his descendants with respect to the heavens, the heavenly realm of the Kingdom, presently occupied by Satan and his fallen angels. And to make absolutely clear to Abram the veracity of His promise, God Himself cut a covenant with Abram a confirmation which is beyond doubt, even in the human realm - Heb 6:13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. a). And let us be of no doubt here that God had orchestrated the events of Abram s life to train him and teach him to bring him to the place that He needed him to be - Pr 16:9 A man's heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. From leaving Ur of the Chaldeans onwards, all was moving inexorably towards Mount Moriah and an event that would take place there that was out of sight for The word of god part 5 continued 1
Abram at that time, an event that would require immovable faith on Abraham s part, an event that would be pivotal to God s purpose for the ages. b). And we can note Abram s mistakes along the way as well as the everpresent choice he had to walk away from the direction that God wanted to lead him, but despite his failings he retained the desire to do the will of the Lord - Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 2). So, we can now begin to see the picture God had given Abram the promise of an inheritance, for him and his descendants; an inheritance to do with both the earth, the land of Canaan and the heavens, both within the context of rulership, and to seal the certainty of this promise God cut a covenant with Abram as a guarantee. a). BUT, Abram still had no child - Ge 16:1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, "See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her." And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. 3 Then Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. 4 So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes. Abram had already dwelt ten years in Canaan, Sarai had born him no children and he wasn t getting any younger. And from Sarai s perspective the situation looked hopeless. There needed to be a child for God s promise to be fulfilled. b). Now in turning to Hagar to provide the solution we again see Abram and indeed Sarai, going to Egypt, turning to the world, acting according to their flesh. The ever-present sin nature. c). Although the scripture states quite clearly that Abram believed God with respect to the promise - Ge 15:6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. He still felt it necessary to help matters along as he had not yet learned to wait upon the Lord, but the son born according to the flesh could never be the recipient of that which was promised, as the man of the flesh can have no inheritance with the man of the spirit. The word of god part 5 continued 2
d). Ge 16:15 So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. And this is what the Lord said to Hagar concerning Ishmael, the son born according to the flesh - Ge 16:12 He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man's hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren." e). And there are several things we will note from this we see the antagonistic nature of Ishmael, His hand shall be against every man and the conflict that would surround him, And every man s hand against him ; all taking place as he dwells in the presence of his brethren. f). In the natural realm we can see this through the descendants of Ishmael today dwelling in the presence of the descendants of Isaac, his brethren, and the reality of what God had said in Genesis 16:12 is all too apparent. g). Then, in the spiritual realm, Ishmael as a type of the man of flesh continues to dwell in the presence of the man of spirit, resulting in a continual conflict between the two - Ga 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman." 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. Ga 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. This is our ongoing experience and the nature of the conflict we face daily. Let us be under no illusions about this. 3). Ge 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 2 "And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly." From the time of the birth of Ishmael until God spoke to Abram again there is a period of 13 years 13 years of which there is no record in the scriptures 13 years of apparent silence and isolation 13 years that would give Abram plenty of The word of god part 5 continued 3
time to reflect on his actions and to wonder about the reason for God s silence towards him. a). However, after 13 years God appeared to Abram again - Ge 17:3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 4 "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5 "No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 "I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 "Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." It was William Shakespeare who asked the question, What s in a name?, and from the scriptural perspective here we can answer, Absolutely everything. b). The name Abram, literally meaning high father in the sense of being honored is the name associated with Abram s first birth and with his years in Ur of the Chaldeans. A name then, that has to do with the man of the flesh. c). The name Abraham literally means father of a multitude the sand on the seashore, the stars in the heavens this is the name that has to do with the man of the spirit, the one who will receive the promises. d). In changing Abram s name at this point the Lord draws attention to the soulical and spiritual composition of the eternally saved individual, just as we saw earlier. e). It was Abram who was the father of Ishmael, but Abraham who was the father of Isaac, the son of promise. And only the descendants of Abraham will receive the promised inheritance. f). But, as we will know, although the new name Abraham is now his, Abram still exists. And the continuing existence of Abram we can see 3 Chapters further on in the incident with Abimelech - Ge 20:1 And Abraham journeyed from there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar. 2 Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. The changing of a name is something we also see with Abraham s grandson Jacob - Ge 32:28 And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed." The word of god part 5 continued 4
Jacob = supplanter or deceiver again associated with the man of the flesh, whereas the new name, Israel gives us he who will rule with God. It is only the man of the spirit who can operate in this realm. But again, although Israel will rule with God, Jacob still existed and in one sense still exists even today as the nation remains in disobedience and unfaithfulness. g). Keeping this in mind will help explain what we see in the Lord s words to the church of Pergamos in - Re 2:17 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it."' All of those found worthy at the Judgment Seat who will rule with Christ in His Kingdom must receive a new name, a name associated with the man of the spirit. To say this in a personal way, John Herbert can have no inheritance in the coming Kingdom this is the name associated with my first birth, the man of the flesh and as such has no part in the purpose of God. But, in that future day there will be a new name, a name connected directly to the man of the spirit. And it will be the bearer of this new name who will receive an inheritance. h). This would make perfect sense if the sin nature is eradicated through the salvation of the soul, so will all of that attached to the sin nature, symbolized in our given name - 1Co 15:46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. And so, we may look forward to bearing the image of the heavenly Man and the new name that will accompany it. i). Having changed Abram s name to Abraham the Lord then gives Abraham the sign of the covenant He had made with him - Ge 17:7 "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 "Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." 9 And God said to Abraham: "As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10 "This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; 11 "and The word of god part 5 continued 5
you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. And again, we will note that the sign of the covenant is for Abraham and his descendants not Abram and his descendants. It is Isaac not Ishmael who is to have the inheritance. j). The physical descendants of Abraham and Isaac through Jacob and the 12 sons still possess the sign of the covenant through circumcision, but it is not the physical sign of itself that is the guarantee of the inheritance Ro 2:28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. Ro 4:9 Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. 13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. k). And, of course a name change was also necessary for Sarai, the mother of the son of promise - Ge 17:15 Then God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 "And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her." Sarai = head person Sarah = Princess, Literally female noble. l). Despite these extraordinary events, Abraham still saw with his natural eyes - Ge 17:17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, "Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?" 18 And Abraham said to God, "Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!" 19 Then God said: "No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. The word of god part 5 continued 6
Abraham looked at his own age and Sarah s age and the physical impossibility of producing a child in that context and so looked again to Ishmael, Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!. But God is very clear, NO Sarah will bear a son and this son will be called Isaac and God s everlasting covenant will be made with Isaac and his descendants after him. That which God has purposed is the only possibility. m). What Abraham had yet to realize is that promise, and inheritance are within the Divine remit alone. Israel can no more occupy the land of promise today apart from a sovereign act of God to put them there than could Abraham and Sarah produce Isaac without the same. n). And here is a valuable lesson for us to learn - Php 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 4). The next 2 Chapters in Genesis, Chapters 18 and 19 are rich beyond measure in the spiritual truth they teach and in them we can begin by seeing the Lord giving clarity to the gulf that exists between that pictured through the names Abram and Abraham - Ge 18:1 Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, It is with Abraham by the terebinth tress of Mamre, which are in Hebron that God appears in bodily form to eat and drink by Abraham s tent and to reaffirm the son of promise - Ge 18:9 Then they said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" So he said, "Here, in the tent." 10 And He said, "I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son." (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?" 13 And the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?' 14 "Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." a). And it is Abraham who stood before the Lord and questioned Him concerning the righteous in Sodom Ge 18:22 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. 23 And The word of god part 5 continued 7
Abraham came near and said, "Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? But let s be clear here that Abraham did not change God s mind, this is not Abraham being a shrewd negotiator, but rather what Abraham says is completely in line with God s nature and character and therefore Abram speaks in agreement with the Lord giving corroboration to that which God had said Ge 18:17 And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, 18 "since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? God did not hide what He was doing from Abraham, and this included how He would act with respect to the righteous in Sodom. This would be a revelation brought forth from above - Ps 5:12 For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield. Ps 18:24 Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight. 25 With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; 26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. 27 For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty looks. And so, what we can see here is that the man of the spirit while standing in the presence of God through His Word, can speak and act in accordance with the nature and character of God and God will hide nothing from him with respect to His plans and purposes - 2Pe 1:3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. That which is God s nature and character can never be changed, but we can, through our submission to the Word, be in complete harmony with them and quite frankly, where else would we want to be? And through our submission to the Word, God will not hide from us what He has done, what He is doing and what He is about to do. Ps 57:1 <<To the Chief Musician. Set to "Do Not Destroy." A Michtam of David when he fled from Saul into the cave.>> Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to The word of god part 5 continued 8
me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. We will continue with this next time if the Lord is willing. The word of god part 5 continued 9